Parker considers reverting to biweekly pay

Published: Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 08:18 PM.

PARKER — City employees could see a larger lag in between pay checks coming soon, but not if former mayor Tonya Barrow can help it.

Changes in employee pay schedules from weekly to bi-weekly and introductions to budgeting seminars drew ire from Barrow after being introduced by Mayor Rich Musgrave during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Barrow pushed for the change to weekly years ago while she was on the council.

“Those employees don’t make enough money anyway, and they do not need a seminar to tell them how to manage their money when they don’t have any,” Barrow said. “… Something might happen to one of their kids. They might need the money for something else before that two weeks gets here.”

Barrow said the reason the pay period was shortened was because employees were having to borrow money as the two-week period drew to a close.

Musgrave argued low-income earners are the people who need money management courses the most.

“When you make a substantial amount of money you can get by just by accident, without a lot of planning,” Musgrave said. “When you have a limited amount of income planning is really critical.”

PARKER — City employees could see a larger lag in between pay checks coming soon, but not if former mayor Tonya Barrow can help it.

Changes in employee pay schedules from weekly to bi-weekly and introductions to budgeting seminars drew ire from Barrow after being introduced by Mayor Rich Musgrave during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Barrow pushed for the change to weekly years ago while she was on the council.

“Those employees don’t make enough money anyway, and they do not need a seminar to tell them how to manage their money when they don’t have any,” Barrow said. “… Something might happen to one of their kids. They might need the money for something else before that two weeks gets here.”

Barrow said the reason the pay period was shortened was because employees were having to borrow money as the two-week period drew to a close.

Musgrave argued low-income earners are the people who need money management courses the most.

“When you make a substantial amount of money you can get by just by accident, without a lot of planning,” Musgrave said. “When you have a limited amount of income planning is really critical.”

Officials in City Hall pleaded the city would decrease administrative efforts if it goes to issuing bi-weekly paychecks, freeing up about three hours of work each week for the city's bookkeeper.

“We’re going to need extra time on the part of our bookkeeper, especially as we move into the Affordable Care Act,” Musgrave said. “It is a complex health care issue we all have to deal with and it’s going to take a large amount of time to do that.”

Council members seemed divided, with a majority leaning in favor of biweekly pay.

But Councilman John Haney vocally supported Barrow.

“They work a week, they should get paid that week,” Haney said. “They work hard for what they earn so they should get paid that week.”

Councilmen Michael Miller and Ken Jones favored reverting to biweekly, but wanted to see availability of budgeting programs beforehand.

Musgrave said he has been in conversations with United Way, FDIC and others who offer free seminars. Many begin September.

“Because that is the real issue,” Musgrave said. “I want to make sure our employees feel comfortable in managing the pay they get and they’re able to manage their bills. I think it is an obligation on our part to make that available.”

Musgrave said he would begin conversations with department heads to spread the word and encourage employees to take part. Budgeting seminars would not be mandatory, he said.

If implemented, employees would be given 60 to 90 days to prepare for any changeover. Ideally it would begin with the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, Musgrave said.

“They don’t need counseling; when you bring it home, you already know what you have to pay it out on,” Barrow said. “You should think about these employees out there. They’re the heart of this city. Not you. They’re what makes this city work.”

Council members tabled the item to gather input from employees. Officials are also looking into direct deposit for city employees.